Steering knuckle



Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES vTENT OFFICE STEERING KN UCKLE Ross H. Phelps, Kenosha, Wis.. assignor'to Nashs Kelvnator Corporation, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Maryland Application January 8, 1941, Serial No. 373,544

( Cl. BSU-96.1)

18 Claims.

This invention relates to steering knuckles and has particular reference to a steering knuckle made up of stamped metal parts for use on an automotive vehicle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a steering knuckle which will be of lighter weight than steering knuckles known heretofore.

4It is another object of this invention to provide a steering knckle which will be cheaper to construct than steering knckles known heretofore.

It is another object of this invention to provide a stamped steering knuckle with means for attaching a shock absorber thereto.

It is another object of this invention to pro-A vide a steering knuckle which will support a Wheel spindle which can be easily and separately machined.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims and the attached drawing, of which there is one sheet, and in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevation partially broken away of an automotive suspension system;

'Figure 2 represents an enlarged detailed view l of the steering knuckle illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 represents a sectional view taken along a plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 represents a front elevation of a parallel arm type of automotive wheel suspension;

Figure 5 represents an enlarged detailed View Aof the lower portion of the support arm shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 represents a section taken along a plane indicated by the line 6-5 in Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 7 represents a sectional view taken along a plane indicated by the line 'I-'I in Figure 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the' past it has been the practice to form steering knuckles on automobiles as forgings and to machinethe wheel spindle and backing plate l'lange directly on the steering knuckle forging. 'I'he steering knuckle was then attached to rotate with or about a king pin which was journalled on part of the spring mounted suspension system.

The present invention provides a steering knuckle made up of two generally cup shaped stampings having flanges turned outwardly along the rims of the stampings.

Each of the stampy i ings is provided with an open side from the edges of which flanges are bent outwardly in a single plane. The two stampings are joined together in opposed relationship to form a generally cylindrical hollow body with an open side. The flanges along the rims of the cup shaped stampings are secured together as by welding and the bases of the stampings are pierced and extruded inwardly in axial alignment. The extruded portions are clamped to a rotatable shaft which is spring mounted upon the automobile and a wheel spindle and backing plate are bolted to -the plane flanges along the open side of the stampings to support the wheel. The steering knuckle thus formed consists of a hollow generally lcylindrical member to the side of which is bolted the spindle and backing plate. The steering knuckle may be applied to various types of wheel suspension systems, two of which are shown in the drawing.

In Figures 1 and 2 the invention is shown to be applied to an automobile having a side rail member` I0 to the bottom of which is attached a cross member I2 having a generally channel shaped cross section which opens downwardly and is anged outwardly at the bottom as at Ill. The outer end of the cross member I2 is bent downwardly as at I6 and the curved portion of the cross member is reinforced by a closing plate I8 which is welded across the flanges I 4' to form the cross member into a box section. A wheel house panel 20 is welded along the outside of the side rail Il) to form a hollow box section.

Supported upon the end of the cross member I2 is a generally vertical king pin 22, the upper end of which is braced to the body of the automobile by a pair of brace rods 24. The top of the king pin is also connected to a tie rod 2S which extends transversely across the automobile to a similar king pin on the opposite side of the automobile. The brace rods 24 and tie rod 26 are secured on the king pin by a nut 28.

Slideably and rotatably mounted around the outside ofthe king pin 22 is a sleeve or hollow shaft 3!) which carries a lower spring seat 32 and a steering knuckle generally indicated at 34. Acoil spring assembly 36 (enclosed in a rubber boot) is mounted between the spring seat 32 and an upper spring seat 38 carried at the top of the king pin. A flexible bellows il) is provided between the lower end of the sleeve 3U and the top of the cross member I 2 to keep dust from entering between the king pin and sleeve. The construction of the king pin 22, sleeve 30, spring support 36, 38 and the brace rods 24 and 26 is more particularly described in the co-pending application of Nils Erik Wahlberg, Ross H. Phelps and Wallace S. Berry for Automotive suspension, Serial No. 370,286, led December 16, 1940, now Patent No. 2,325,894, dated August 3, 1943.

rl'he tie rod 26 is provided near its end with a U-shaped clip 42 to which is attached the upper end of a strut type shock absorber 44. The lower end of the shock absorber is attached to the steering knuckle 34 in a manner which will be more particularly described later.

Considering the steering knuckle 34 in detail, attention is called to Figure .2 in which the Steering knuckle is shown to be made up of .a y.pairiflf generally cup shaped stampings 46, each having semi-cylindrical side Walls 41 and flanges 48 turned outwardly from their rim portions. One side of the stampings 46 is open and .flanges 56 are turned outwardly of the stampings into a generally `vertical plane. The v"bases `of lthe-cup shaped stampings F46 are pierced and extruded as at 52 and the stampings :are 'joined together in opposed relationship by wel'din'g the `flanges 48 to each other. 'The'extruded portions "52 of the stampings are in axial :alignmentzso that the sleeve 30 maybe 'secured inside :of 'the Alstarnpings as by press fitting -orwe'l'ding The rflanges 248 are extended on the opposite :side of thezstampings from the flanges 150 'f'to lformears 54 v.which are apertured to receive 'the l.lower :bayonet Lend 56 of the shock absorber'44. It will be-notefdthat the side walls M of the stampings vare bent outwardly at an angle as `at 4'55 :at the base of the ears 54 to reinforce them and prevent 'them frombending. Rubber grommets are retained by the cup shaped metal washers6ll and the :nut 62 on the lowerside of 'the ears "54 tto yieldably connect the shock absorber to the.=e'ars`54.

The wheel spindle 64 on which the races 66 and ball bearings 63 vare supported 4is provided with .a flat iange "l `which is secured vto the anges 56 of the stampings 4'6by means fof :bolts l2. The bolts 1.2 also 'function ltoholdthe 'backing plate 1,4 of the brake assembly to the "flange l0. A hub portion "T6 'of the wheel is shown supported upon the'bearings 68and retainedin place by the nut 11.8 'threaded on the end vof the `spindle 64.

In Figures 4 to '7 the invention is .shown as applied to 'the well known yparallel `rarm type of suspension in lwhich `'an upper control arm -30 and a lower control arm T|52 are pivotally supported to a cross member "84 as at 136 and 88 respectively. 'The outer lends of the'controlarms are pivotally connected -to va steering knuckle support arm '05 and a coiltspring=62 'is positioned between the cross member 84 and thelower control arm.

The steering knuckle support farm *.90 is :provided near its lower lend 'with `a pair of bosses 94 which extend outwardly Ifrom the support arm and which are yapertured along aline lgenerally parallel Yto the axis of the support larm as at 96. A king pin '08 is '-journaled :i'n'ibearings |00 carried in 'the bosses Y9|! andthe ends-of the apertures are closed by jplugs |-0-|.

Positioned between the bosses 34 is 'afsteering knuckle 34A which -is similar -to the steering knuckle 34 shown in .Figures '1, '2 and 13. The steering knuckle '34A `is formed of a pair-of -generally cup shaped stampings Y|02 .having semi cylindrical side walls |05 and flanges |04 `-turned outwardly from their rims and provided with an openisid'e, the edges of which are anged'outare secured together as by Welding to form a hol- `10W generally cylindrical steering knuckle having .an-openside along which the flange |66 extends in a vsingle plane.

Theking'pingg is passed through the extruded i,portions il t6 of the steering knuckle and is secured to the steering knuckle by a locking pin .|12 whichis passed through the holes formed by the semicircular depressed portions |08 of the Iianges |64. The pin ||2 is provided with a flat taperedside 'H16 :('see Figure f6) which matesuwith va at .surface 5| |.8 formed .on .the :king ipin 98.

The .pin :i |.2 :drawn tight against the king 1vpin by means of the nut |20 (seegFigme 6`) `A '#ball bearing assembly |22 lis fpositi'oned ibe- .tween the upper xsurta'ce :of fthe;s'teering `knuckle 34A andthe :bottomof theupper1boss'84 to:facili tatie rotation pf .thekingzpinand steering knuckle `with respect to :the :control varm 90. .A .simple thrust washer |24 Sis iprovided between "-th'e illower surface of the steering knuckle and the lower boss 34.

The `Wheel 'spindle :|12 6 -is 'shown dao #be 'provided with a shoulder|28 (seeEFigure-Uz) and a threaded inner end on Awhichis threadedt-thernut |30.. `.'Llhe innerrend of vthe spindle |26isqaassed fthroughan uaperture formed in a :supporting plate 432 is clamped to the plate by means of the 4mit 13|) and :a Washer |32.. .The supporting plate |32 is secu-red to ithc flanges :1.05 pf lthe steering knuckle "by .means -of the :bolts |36 :which also servefto secure 'the .backing plate :|733 of Ythe brake assembly to the plate |32.

The `two `part construction of Athe wheel Espindle |26 and vthe supporting plate y|32 permtthe l wheel spindle to be more easily machined :since no :provision need tbe madenfor. balancing vor vholding the unsymmetriica-l supporting plate |32 which may be prepared separately. A :key Y|40 is providedbetween-t-he spindle |726 and the :supporting plate |32 to prevent relative rotation `between these parts. The .spindle |26 and plate |52 may be 'substituted in the lstructure .shown in Figure 2 for the spindle 64, 10 and vice versa.

The lower bolts |36 which hold the .supporting plate |32 and -the 'backing plate |38 to `the steering knuckle 34A also serve to secure `rthe .steering vknuckle arm |42 to the steeringknnckle .by-means of which 'the 'steering knuckle and spindle are rotated about the axis of the king p'in98 to steer the vehicle. Itwill be-n0ted that the st'ampings I| 02 in the steering'knuckle '34A are not provided with -ears such Aas the vears 54 Yin 'the .steering knuckle 34 .since vthere is :no shock absorber to be attached to the steering knuckle. iIn "both examples .ofthe invention the wheel spindle and `.supporting plate vmay 'be permanently lsecured to the flanges kof 'the steering 'knuckle stamping as by welding andthe Ibolts l|36 and '12 may be -used only to .attach the backing lplates '14 .and '|38 to the steering knuckle and to reinforce the `welded joint.

It should thus be apparent that ythe steering knuckle .described vis much Alighter than a solid forged `'steering knuckle :due 'to `its hollow con- Aaai'nsii erally horizontal line which is generally transverse to the loads applied to the steering knuckle so that there is no tendency for the steering knuckle to fail along the. welded connection. The stampings H12 and the supporting plate |32 may be made of less expensive material than' that requiredin the wheel spindle. Two examples of the steering knuckle have been illustrated to indicate that it may be used in any type of suspension in which a steering knuckle is supported upon a rotatable part as the sleeve 30 in Figures 1 and 2 and the king pin 98 in Figures 3 to 6. The extruded portions 52 and H0 may support bearing surfaces if it is desired to have the steering knuckle rotate with respect to the king pin.

While I have described my invention in some detail, I intend this description to be an example only and not as a limitation of my invention, to which I make the following claims:

l. A partially cylindrical hollow steering knuckle having an open side, a flange extending around said open side, and a wheel spindle including a at plate secured to said flange, said steering knuckle having additional flanges providing an inner cylindrical portion spaced from the outer walls of said knuckle.

2. A partially cylindrical, stamped hollow steering knuckle having end walls that are pierced and extruded along lines generally parallel to the cylindrical portions of said stampings.

3. A partially cylindrical, stamped hollow steering knuckle having end walls that are pierced and extruded along lines generally parallel to the cylindrical portions of said stampings and an open side and a wheel spindle secured around said open side.

4. A steering knuckle comprising a pair of oppositely stamped cup shaped members, flanges formed along the rims of said cup shaped members, the bases of said cup shaped members being pierced and extruded inwardly of said steering knuckle, said flanges being secured together, and other flanges formed along one side of said steering knuckle and lying in a single plane arranged to support wheel supporting mechanism.

5. A steering knuckle comprising a pair of partially cylindrical stampings having an open side, anges formed along the rims of said stampings, other flanges formed outwardly from the open side of said stampings, said first flanges being welded together with said other anges positioned in a single plane, the bases of said stampings being pierced and extruded in axial alignment, a supporting plate secured to said other anges, and a wheel spindle secured to said supporting plate.

6. A partially cylindrical hollow steering knuckle formed of two cup shaped stampings welded together at their rims and having an open side, and a wheel spindle removably secured along the open side of said steering knuckle.

7. A partially cylindrical hollow steering knuckle made of two cup shaped stampings welded together along their rims and having an open side, extruded portions formed in each end of said knuckle and in axial alignment, a rotatable shaft secured in said extruded portions, a supporting plate removably secured to the open side of said knuckle, and a wheel spindle removably secured to said supporting plate.

8. A hollow steering knuckle comprising a pair of oppositely formed stampings having base p0rtions and anged rim sections, the bases of said stampings being extruded inwardly o f said stampings, said flanges being welded together, other anges formed along a side of said stampings and lying in a single plane, means securing a rotatable shaft in said extruded portions of said stampings, a supporting plate secured to said other flanges along the open side of said stampings, a wheel spindle removably secured to said supporting fplate, anda vbrake backing -plate se- `cured to said supporting plate.

y9. A steering knuckle comprising a pair of oppositely formed stampings having semicylindrical body portions each with an open side, iianges turned outwardly of said semi-cylindrical body portions, said flanges having oppositely bent portions defining apertures along a line passing as a chord across the ends of and between said body portions, said iianges being welded together, extruded portions formed in each end of said stampings and in axial alignment, a shaft positioned in said extruded portions and extending beyond each end thereof, a pin extending through said apertures and arranged to lock said shaft in said stampings, and wheel supporting means secured to the open side of said stampings.

10. A steering knuckle comprising two partially cylindrical stampings each having an open side and being welded together along their rims and arranged to receive a rotatable shaft through their ends approximately at right angles with respect to the plane of the weld.

11. A steering knuckle comprising two semicylindrical stampings welded together along their rims and arranged to receive a shaft through their ends approximately at right angles with respect to the plane of the weld, the rims of said stampings having semi-circular notches defining aligned apertures arranged to receive a locking pin.

12. In a steering knuckle, a stamping having a base, side walls extending along three sides of said base, a ange turned outwardly from the edges of said side walls, and a second flange turned outwardly from the ends of said side wall and the edge of said base, said base being pierced and extruded.

13. In a steering knuckle, a stamping having a base, side walls extending along three sides of said base, a ange turned outwardly from the edges of said side walls, and a second ange turned outwardly from the free ends of said side walls and the edge of said base, said base being pierced and extruded, said first flange defining an aperture on the opposite side of said stamping from said second ange.

14. A steering knuckle for an automotive vehicle comprising a hollow outer shell provided with a iiat surface on one side, said hollow outer shell having an inner stamped cylindrical portion located within said shell and extending partially therethrough in spaced relationship to said outer shell and having its principal axis extending generally parallel to said flat surface, and wheel spindle supporting means secured to said flat surface.

l5. A steering knuckle for an automotive vehicle comprising a pair of open-ended hollow stampings each provided with a flat ange extending around the open end thereof and an aperture having an inwardly extruded fiange in the closest end thereof extending toward said open end, means securing said at anges of said .fstampings together tto form 11. .box seeton, and

'means 'securing e Wheel 'spindle rtosael -stamprhiole Acomprising Ve. .pair of 'open-ended hollow 1 vstarnnings each .provided with :a .at :flange .extending around the :open end thereof, .means securing said at'fianges 'of said stampings "togeth'er to form a box section, and means 'securing a wheel spindle to said .stamping's, ythe axis `of seid steering knuckle lying 'approximately in the plane of said "flanges 17. A steering V-knuolile :for automotive Vehicles comprising a `stamped outer hollow shell, said hollow outershl1 Ihaving an inner stamped cylindrical portion located Within and spaced from 'said outershell by integral stamped flanged portions, tmeans securing .r'said .inner and outer shells in .spa'ce'd relationship, a wheel :spindle 'se- 'cured to 'and vcarried by .said outer shell, and a king pin received in .said inner shell.

18. A .steering knuckle .for automotive vehicles comprising a 'hollow :stamped `body portion, .a horizontal rib extending 'around said body portion, an attaching surface formed on the exterior vof said body portion, means attaching a Wheel vspindle `to 'saiid'i'attaching surface, and means Within fsaid body yportion supporting a king ".pin falong :an laxis ltransverse Lto said Wheel spindle.

ROSS H. .PHELPS. 

